Urban development and air pollution: evidence from a globalpanel of cities

Hilber, Christian A. L. ORCID: 0000-0002-1352-495X and Palmer, Charles ORCID: 0000-0002-1252-179X (2014) Urban development and air pollution: evidence from a globalpanel of cities. SERC Discussion Paper (169). Spatial Economics Research Centre, London.

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Abstract

We exploit a unique panel of 75 metro areas (‘cities’) across the globe and employ a cityfixed effects model to identify the determinants of within-city changes in air pollution concentration between 2005 and 2011. Increasing car and population densities significantly reduce air pollution concentration in city centers where air pollution induced health risks are greatest. These effects are largely confined to cities in non-OECD countries. Two possible mechanisms for the negative effect of car density are explored: (i) increasing car density permits a decentralization of residential and economic activity; and (ii) car usage substitutes for motorbike usage. We find limited evidence in favour of (i) and no evidence in favour of (ii). We also observe a complex relationship between income and pollution concentration as well as a general downward-trend in pollution concentration over time. Overall, our findings are indicative that densely populated polycentric cities may be ‘greener’ and ‘healthier’ than comparable monocentric ones.

Item Type:	Monograph (Working Paper)
Official URL:	http://www.spatialeconomics.ac.uk/
Additional Information:	©2014 C.A.L. Hilber and C. Palmer
Divisions:	Geography & Environment Spatial Economics Research Centre
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GF Human ecology. Anthropogeography H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor H Social Sciences > HE Transportation and Communications
JEL classification:	Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q0 - General > Q01 - Sustainable Development Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q5 - Environmental Economics > Q53 - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling R - Urban, Rural, and Regional Economics > R1 - General Regional Economics > R11 - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, and Changes R - Urban, Rural, and Regional Economics > R4 - Transportation Systems > R41 - Transportation: Demand, Supply, and Congestion; Safety and Accidents; Transportation Noise
Date Deposited:	11 May 2015 10:04
Last Modified:	11 Dec 2024 19:16
Funders:	Economic and Social Research Council, Department for Business, Innovation & Skills, Welsh Government
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/61791

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